General Election multi-party debate as it happened: Seven parties go head-to-head in election grilling

13 June 2024, 20:21 | Updated: 13 June 2024, 22:47

The seven-way election debate will go ahead on Thursday evening.
The seven-way election debate will go ahead on Thursday evening. Picture: Alamy

By Jenny Medlicott

Seven parties are set to go head-to-head in another election grilling on Thursday evening.

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Those participating in the debate are Penny Mordaunt for the Conservative Party, Angela Rayner for the Labour Party, Daisy Cooper for the Liberal Democrats, Stephen Flynn for the SNP, Nigel Farage for Reform UK, Carla Denyer for the Green Party and Rhun ap Iorwerth for Plaid Cymru.

It comes after PM Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faced each other on Wednesday.

Voters across the country will go to the polls on July 4.

Follow the latest developments below

'How will you restore faith and trust in politics?'

Daisy Cooper says Greens wants to devolve power to communities. She also calls for Proportional Representation. She adds the Tories have taken a “wrecking ball” to trust.

Angela Rayner says polticians must play by the rules. She adds they must bring back integrity and ethics.

Penny Mordaunt says people need to be honest about their manifestos. She says there will be tax cuts under the Tories and says there will be a tax rise under the other parties. This is mocked by the audience.

Rhun ap Iorwerth responds to Penny Mordaunt and asks her to be “truthful” with people. He also brings up a £200k,000 donation made to the Welsh Labour leader by a environmental polluter.

Carla Denyer brings up the unfair voting system. She says that the only European country with a First Past The Post system is Belarus.

Stephen Flynn says you should always vote for others when doing well in life. He calls for people to vote for what they believe in.

Nigel Farage says the First Past The Post system needs to change. He also criticses the House of Lords and the fact it’s full on donors is a “disgrace”. He also calls for more referndums.

Will the two-child benefit cap or £18bn cut to public services be worse for child poverty?

Rhun ap Iorwerth asks Rayner about child poverty.

Labour has plans around housing and employment to tackle all issues and help grow the economy, Rayner says.

Uncosted commitments won't work - the Tories did that and crashed the economy, she says.

How can anybody trust a word the Tories say about protecting the NHS?

Cooper asks Mordaunt about failing to deliver on NHS pledges.

Mordaunt insists the Tories have delivered on a number of NHS pledges, including recruiting public sector workers.

More doctors and nurses are being recruited but integrity is vital, she says.

'Will Labour end arms sales to Israel?'

The SNP's Stephen Flynn asks Labour's Angela Rayner on ending arms sales to Israel.

Rayner describes the October 7 attacks by Hamas as "barbaric" and that Israel had the right to defend itself.

She adds that Labour in government will "immediately review" legal advice on arms sales and will comply with international law.

Would you allow Farage in the Tories?

Angela Rayner asks Penny Mordaunt if Nigel Farage would be allowed into the party.

"I'm a Brexiteer, I believe if you can't reform European institutions you should be prepared to leave them and I believe in rewarding personal responsibility," she says.

Mordaunt says main focus is keeping Labour out.

"Not only do you not listen to me you don't listen to the public," says Rayner.

Flynn cuts in: "It's like being back in the Commons."

Why believe the Tory manifesto for a fifth time?

Nigel Farage asks Penny Mordaunt why Brits should trust the Tories to deliver on migration pledges for a fifth time.

"Because of the record of this PM," Mordaunt says. 

The audience laughs.

Farage reminds Mordaunt that Reform has overtaken the Tories in polls.

Mordaunt argues Farage is a "Labour enabler" but Farage insists now a vote for the Tories is a vote for Labour.

'Nigel is a Labour enabler' - Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt calls Nigel Farage a "labour enabler".

Farage responds by saying Reform UK are ahead of the Conservatives in the polls and that in fact the Tories are "labour enablers".

Which of Labour's u-turns are you most proud of?

Green's Carla Denyer asks Angela Rayner which u-turn she is most proud of - the climate investment plan, two child benefit cap or one of the others?

Rayner says Labour is realistic about a programme for govt which is credible and can grow the economy.

Labour can do it because we've done it before, she says.

She says Labour has a fully costed plan.

Mordaunt cuts in - "You do not!"

Rayner quizzed by Mordaunt on increase to capital gains tax

Conservative Penny Mordaunt asks Labour's Angela Rayner whether Labour will raise capital gains tax.

Rayner replies saying Labour will not due to the manifesto being full costed.

"We do not need to raise taxes on working people," she adds.

Mordaunt does not believe she answers the questions however the host says she had.

'Why are so many relying on food banks and at risk of losing their homes?'

Nigel Farage says people are getting "poorer". He says GDP has fallen for six years and that a certain group of people are getting "richer" while everyone else has fallen behind. He repeats the line of the population explosion again and wants to population to steady. He also calls for more houses to be built and an increase to tax thresholds.

Rhun ap Iorwerth says the Tories have "crashed" the economy. He says we have got to get the government to recognise the importance of dealing with inequality. He adds that Labour are "tied to hip" of the Conservatives.

Stephen Flynn says the Conservatives are the problem. He cites 14 years of austerity, economy damage from Brexit and Liz Truss crashing the economy. He also warns of £18billion of public service cuts.

Daisy Cooper says the cost of living crisis is a "catastrophe". She says the Lib Dems called for a windfall tax first. They want to close loopholes in it, insulate homes, offer free school meals for kids in poverty and invest £1billion in farmers.

Angela Rayner repeats the plan to grow the economy. She cites this plan to build houses, including social housing, and a new deal for working people. She also says Great British energy will lower bills.

Penny Mordaunt says 4 million more are in work. She adds the Tories will cut taxes and Labour will put up taxes and bills.

Carla Denyer says the rich are getting get richer while the poor are getting poorer. She wants fairness back into economy and calls for a £15 minimum wage, an uplift to Universal Credit and an end to the two child benefit cap.

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